Fleet angle control device



R. E. WALSH 3,215,405

FLEET ANGLE CONTROL DEVICE Nov. 2, 1965 Filed Nov. 6, 1962. 2Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. 644 PH .5 P1441514 MW M Nov. 2, 1965 R. E.WALSH 3,215,405

FLEET ANGLE CONTROL DEVICE Filed Nov. 6, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 7FIG. 6

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Arroevay United States Patent 3,215,405 FLEET ANGLE CONTROL DEVICE RalphE. Walsh, Long Branch, N..I., assignor to Breeze Corporations, Inc.,Union, N.J., a corporation of New Jersey Filed Nov. 6, 1962, Ser. No.235,746 6 Claims. (Cl. 254-190) which are airborne, a substantial amountof cable wear results from the excessive swinging of the load secured tothe end of the cable. If the cable is reeled in the swinging actionsteadily increases so that the fleet angle grows larger as the cablebecomes shorter and shorter. The

excessive fleet angle further increases wear on the cable guide membersand substantially shortens the useful life of these portions of thewinch or hoist.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a fleetangle control device for interrupting -the operation of a hoist or winchwhen fleet angles become excessive.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a fleet anglecontrol device which can be attached to the structure of presently usedhoists or winches without substantially altering said devices.

A further object of the present invention is to provide "a fleet anglecontrol device which will shut off the hoist or winch motor when thecable has reached its upper limit of travel.

Still another object of the present invention is to prof vide a compactfleet angle control device.

'A feature of the present invention is the use of one "or more switchmembers responsive to the fleet angle of 'the cable for interrupting theoperation of the winch or hoist motor.

Another feature of the present invention is the use of a spring loadedplate for actuating the motor control switches.

Still another feature of the present invention is-its use 'of a novelswivel member between the cable and the switch means to translate theswinging motion of the cable into a switch operating rectilinear motion.

The invention consists of the construction, combination and arrangementof parts, as herein illustrated, described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof are illustrated twoforms of embodiment of the invention, in which drawings similarreference characters designate corresponding parts, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a view in side elevation of a complete embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIGURE 2 is a view in vertical section of the fleet angle control deviceshown in FIGURE 1.

, FIGURE 3 is a longitudinal section taken on line 33 in FIGURE 2,looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 on an enlarged scale showing theeffect of a large fleet angle upon the device.

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 4 showing the operation of thepresent invention as a limit control.

'FIGURE 6 is a view in vertical section of a second 1 embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIGURE 7 is a view similar to FIGURE 6 showing the effect of cableswing.

terns available through the use of the embodimenst shown in FIGURES 15,6 and 7.

3,215,405 Patented Nov. 2, 1965 Referring to the drawings andparticularly to FIG- URES 15, 10 indicates a fleet angle control devicesecured by a bracket 11 to an aircraft 12 or other suitable vehicle. Thefleet ,angle control device 10 is built within a housing 13 to whichthere is laterally attached a metal box 14.

The box 14 carries one or more switch members 15 therein and retains theend of a cable 16. The cable 16 is connected to the switch member 15 andalso to the source of rotary power for the winch or hoist (not shown).The switch members 15 may also be used to operate remote indicatorlights or other required electrical apparatus.

The housing 13 is externally threaded at the lower end thereof asindicated at 17 to receive thereon a nut member 18. The nut 18 retains aspherical bearing assembly 19 which is free to swing with the motion ofthe cable 20 which passes therethrough. It will be seen that thespherical bearing assembly is made up of-a central guide portion 21which is axially bored and tapered as indicated at 22, to minimize cablewear. The spherical member 19 surrounds the guide portion 21, and rideswithin a socketlike portion 23 which is held within the housing 13, bythe nut 18 and a retaining ring 24.

The top of the guide portion 21 is provided with cam surfaces 25, bestshown in FIGURES 2, 4 and 5, which bear against the bottom surface 26 ofan actuator plate 27.

In the embodiment shown in FIGURE 2-5, the actuator plate 27 is a flatdisc-like member having a central aperture 28, to permit the cable 20,to pass therethrough. The actuator plate 27 is disposed within thehousing 13, normal to the longitudinal axis thereof. A flat springmember 29 such as the wave spring shown in FIGURES 2-5, is carriedwithin the housing 13 above the actuator plate 27 and in contact withthe upper surface 30, thereof.

The wave spring 29 also bears against the lower surface 31 of themounting bracket 11. A snap-ring 32 is carried by the housing 13 andextends into the plate receiving chamber 33 of the housing to limit thedownward motion of the actuator plate 27.

The wave spring 29 urges the actuator plate against the snap-ring 32during normal or permissive cable fleet angles.

The operating arm 33 of the switch member or switch members 15 extendsthrough a lateral bore 34 in the housing 13 and is disposed in the pathof travel of the actuator plate 27 as hereinafter more fully described.

When the cable member 20 begins to swing as by the motion of some loadsecured to the bottom thereof, the spherical bearing assembly 19 will berocked as indicated in FIGURE 4. The cam surface 25 at the top of theguide portion 21 of the bearing assembly 19, will thereupon force theactuator plate upwardly against the pressure of the spring 29. The uppersurface 30 of the actuator plate will thereupon force the switch arm 33upwardly to operate the switch and cut off the power supply to the Winchor hoist. It will be seen that by regulating the clearance between theactuator plate 27 and the bottom of the switch arm 33 the precise amountof fleet angle which will be permitted before the power is cut off, canbe regulated.

In addition to limiting the swing of the cable 20 the control device 10can be used as a limit switch to stop the winch or hoist at the end ofthe cable travel. For this purpose, a bumper 35, best shown in FIGURES 1and 5, is secured to the cable 20 at a suitable distance from the endthereof. As the cable 20 is reeled in, the bumper 35 will be broughtinto contact with the bottom of the guide portion 21 of the sphericalbearing assembly 19. Since there is vertical play provided for betweenthe guide portion 21 and the spherical members 22 as shown in FIGURES2-5, the guide portion 21 will be forced upwardly by the bumper andcause the actuator plate 27 to operate the switch 15.

Referring to FIGURES 6 and 7, there is shown the application of thefleet angle control device to a further embodiment in which the patternof swing may be controlled to satisfy the installation requirements ofthe winch or hoist.

In FIGURE 8 there is shown a hoist which is mounted outboard of anaircraft 12. In such installations it may be desirable to .limit theswing of the load so that it will not pass under the aircraft and belost sight of. The fleet angle controlled device hereinabove describedand illustrated in FIGURES l-S, will provide such an asymmetric patternbecause of the fact that the switch actuating arm 33 is not located onthe center line of the actuator plate 27.

However, in other installations such as the one shown in FIGURE 9, asymmetrical pattern may be desired, which pattern can be achieved bymaking the actuator plate wedge-shaped as illustrated in FIGURES 6 and7, at 36.

In this embodiment of the invention, a swing of the cable in thedirection of the thickened portion of the actuator plate 36, asillustrated in FIGURE 7, will cause the upper surface 37 to bear againsta small shoulder 38, in the housing 13. Further motion of the sphericalbearing assembly 19 will cause the cam surface 25, at the top of theguide portion 21, to raise the OPPosite side of the actuator plate 36and operate the switch 15. It will be obvious to those skilled in theart that a wide variety of swing patterns may be provided by varying theshape and thickness of the actuator plate 36.

From the foregoing it will be seen that there has been provided a fleetangle control device and limit control device for the cables of winches,hoists and the like which is compact in size, simple in operation, andwill serve to interrupt the power to the winch or hoist when cable swingbecomes excessive. As a result of the interruption of cable movement theload can be held at a fixed point until the swinging motion subsides tothe permissable limits which will insure prolonged cable life.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new anddesired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. A device for controlling the fleet angle of winch cables and the likecomprising a hollow housing, a longitudinal passage in said housing toreceive a cable therethrough, an internal bearing member carried withinthe passage in the housing, a substantially spherical bearing rockablycarried by the internal bearing coaxial with the housing passage, a borein the spherical bearing registering with said passage to receive thecable therethrough, cam surfaces on the upper portion of the sphericalbearing, a plate within the housing disposed in operative relationshipwith the cam surfaces, an opening in the plate to receive the cabletherethrough, switch means carried by the housing, a switch arm on theswitch means adjacent the plate and engageable thereby, whereby motionimparted to the plate by the rocking motion of the spherical bearingwill operate the switch means.

2. A device for controlling the fleet angle of winch cables and the likecomprising a hollow housing, a longitudinal passage in said housing toreceive a cable there through, an internal bearing member carried Withinthe passage in the housing, a substantially spherical bearing rockablycarried by the internal bearing coaxial with the housing passage, a borein the spherical bearing registering with said passage to receive thecable therethrough, cam surfaces on the upper portion of the sphericalbearing, an axially bored mounting bracket extending into the passage, aplate within the housing disposed in operative relationship with the camsurfaces, an opening in the plate to receive the cable therethrough, aspring between the plate and mounting bracket to urge the plate againstthe cam surfaces, switch means carried by the housing, a switch arm onthe switch means adjacent the plate and engageable thereby, wherebymotion imparted to the plate by the rocking motion of the sphericalhearing will operate the switch means.

3. A device for controlling the fleet angle of winch cables and the likecomprising a hollow housing, a longitudinal passage in said housing toreceive a cable therethrough, an internal bearing member carried withinthe passage in the housing, a substantially spherical bearing rockablycarried by the internal bearing coaxial with the housing passage, alongitudinal shiftable guide portion within the spherical bearing, abore in the spherical hearing guide portion registering with saidpassage to receive the cable therethrough, cam surfaces on the upperportion of the spherical bearing guide portion, a plate within thehousing disposed in operative relationship with the cam surfaces, anopening in the plate to receive the cable therethrough, switch meanscarried by the housing, a switch arm on the switch means adjacent theplate and engageable thereby, whereby motion imparted to the plate bythe rocking motion of the spherical bearing will operate the switchmeans.

4. A device for controlling the fleet angle .of winch cables and thelike comprising a hollow housing, a longitudinal passagein said housingto receive a cable therethrough, an internal bearing member carriedwithin the passage in the housing, a substantially spherical bearingrockably carried by the internal bearing coaxial with the housingpassage, a bore in the spherical bearing registering with said passageto receive the cable therethrough, cam surfaces on the upper portion ofthe spherical bearing, an axially bored mounting bracket extending intothe passage, a plate within the housing disposed in operativerelationship with the cam surfaces, an opening in the plate to receivethe cable therethrough, a wave spring between the plate and mountingbracket to urge the plate against the cam surfaces, switch means carriedby the housing, a switch arm on the switch means adjacent the plate andengageable thereby, whereby motion imparted to the plate by the rockingmotion of the spherical bearing will overcome the loading of the wavespring and operate the switch means.

5. A device for controlling the fleet angle of winch cables and the likecomprising a hollow housing, a longitudinal passage in said housing toreceive a cable therethrough, an internal bearing member carried withinthe passage in the housing, a substantially spherical bearing rockablycarried by the internal bearing coaxial with the housing passage, a borein the spherical bearing registering with said passage to receive thecable therethrough, cam surfaces on the upper portion of the sphericalbearing, a plate having a substantially wedgeshaped cross section withinthe housing disposed in operative relationship with the cam surfaces, anopening in the plate to receive the cable therethrough, switch meanscarried by the housing, a switch arm on the switch means adjacent theplate and engageable thereby, whereby motion imparted to the plate bythe rocking motion of the spherical hearing will operate the switchmeans.

6. A device for controlling the fleet angle of winch cables and the likecomprising a hollow housing, a longitudinal passage in said housing toreceive a cable therethrough, an internal bearing member carried withinthe passage in the housing, a substantially spherical bearing rockablycarried by the internal bearing coaxial with the housing passage, a borein the spherical bearing registering with said passage to receive thecable therethrough, cam surfaces on the upper portion of the sphericalbearing, an axially bored mounting bracket extending into the passage, aplate having a substantially wedge-shaped cross section within thehousing disposed in operative relationship with the cam surfaces, anopening in the plate to receive the cable therethrough, a wave springbetween the plate and mounting bracket to urge the plate against the camsurfaces, switch means carried by the housing, a switch arm on theswitch means adjacent the plate and engageable thereby, whereby motionimparted to the plate by the rocking motion of the spherical bearingwill overcome the loading of the wave spring and operate the switchmeans.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,266,660 12/41Sloan 254-173 2,328,266 8/43 Durbin 200-153.19 2,418,105 3/47 Wohler.

2,692,102 10/54 Cobham 254-173 SAMUEL F. COLEMAN, Primary Examiner.

1. A DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING THE FLEET ANGLE OF WINCH CABLES AND THE LIKECOMPRISING A HOLLOW HOUSING, A LONGITUDINAL PASSAGE IN SAID HOUSING TORECEIVE A CABLE THERETHROUGH, AN INTERNAL BEARING MEMBER CARRIED WITHINTHE PASSAGE IN THE HOUSING, A SUBSTANTIALLY SPERICAL BEARING ROCKABLYCARRIED BY THE INTERNAL BEARING COAXIAL WITH THE HOUSING PASSAGE, A BOREIN THE SPHERICAL BEARING REGISTERING WITH SAID PASSAGE TO RECEIVE THECABLE THERETHROUGH, CAM SURFACES ON THE UPPER PORTION OF THE SPERICALBEARING, A PLATE WITHIN THE HOUSING DISPOSED IN OPERATIVE RELATIONSHIPWITH THE CAM SURFACES, A OPENING IN THE PLATE RECEIVE THE CABLETHERETHROUGH, SWITCH MEANS CARRIED BY THE HOUSING, A SWITCH ARM ON THESWITCH MEANS ADJACENT